Connection for electrical conductors



(No Model.)

B. P. WELDON. commoner: FOR ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

No. 584,299. Patented June 8,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD F. WELDON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONNECTION FOR ELECTRECAL OONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,299, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed May 5, 1897. Serial No. 635,114. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERNARD F. IVELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitts burg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in (Jonnections for Electrical Conductors, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement in connections for electric conductors or wires; and to this end my invention consists in the combination, with two or more conductors which are to be electrically connected, of a soft or pliable envelop or covering of conducting material, preferably in the form of a tube, which incloses the conductors or wires, and which, together with the wires, is folded over on itself and pressed closely against the wires, so as to form a connection which isstrong and durable, which is highly efficient as a conductor of electricity, which is easily and quickly made, and which is comparatively inexpensive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal'section, of a piece of tubing, showing the conductors or wires inserted in the tube from its opposite ends; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line a; 00 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. at, a longitudinal section of the tube with the wires both inserted from the same end; Fig. 5, a perspective view showing the tube and wires folded over and pressed together, the wires being inserted from opposite ends, as in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing both wires inserted from the same end of the tube, as in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of my invention, as shown in the drawings, I employ a section of tubing 1, of soft or pliable metal, and insert therein the wires or conductors, as 2 3, which are to be electrically connected. The tube 1 and the wires which have been inserted therein are then bent transversely, preferably near the middle of the tube, folded over, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and pressed together, so that the tube closely hugs the wires at the bend and throughout its length and so that the two branches of the tube are in contact.

The wires may be placed side by side in the tube before the tube is bent, as shown in Figs. 2 and 1, but, if preferred, they may be twisted together before insertion in the tube.

My improvement is specially adapted to be employed as a connection for electric fixtures or chandeliers or for combined gas and electric fixtures or chandeliers in houses, and in such applications where the flexible wire usually employed with the fixture is to be electrically connected to the more rigid housewiring I prefer to twist the flexible wire about the more rigid wire before inserting the wires in the tube; but in this respect the application of my improvement is not limited, since either or both of the wires, or any or all of them, may be rigid, or comparatively so, or flexible, and maybe placed merely side by side in the tube or twisted together before being put in the tube and before the tube is bent.

One of the advantages of my improvement is the convenience of its application, and this is to a certain extent due to the considerable range of applicability of a tube of any diameter within certain limits to the accommodation of a few or a considerable number of wires of the same or of different sizes with the same degree of efficiency in all cases.

The soft or pliable tube within which the wires are inserted need not be of any special form or material so long as it is of good conducting material and of suflicient softness or pliability to be easily manipulated in making the connection, so that the tube may be compressed into close contact with the wires and into the spaces between them.

In making the connection,the wires having been inserted in the tube, one end of the tube 1 may be held in the hand or otherwise fixed and the tube grasped between its other end and its middle part by a pair of pliers and bent over far enough to permit the two branches of the tube to be grasped by the pliers and pressed together. The bending of the tube and of the wires in itself insures a good contact by which a good conducting connection is secured, and the pressing to gether of the two branches further insures a good contact.

It will be seen that with my improvement the use of acids or a torch or other heating means such as are required in making soldered oints is entirely dispensed with, and this is of advantage not only on account of the inconvenience of carrying such things from place to place, but also on account of the objectionable elt'ects which sometimes occur with the employment of the soldering outfit, such as the spilling of acids on floors or carpets or the blacking of walls or ceilings by the torch, which are so often complained of in private houses.

My improvement provides a much more perfect electrical connection and a stronger joint than the soldered joint. It does not require any mechanical skill in its application, and does not require the provision or carrying about of any special tools or material. The only thing required is a comparatively inexpensive piece of tubing, which is easily manipulated by the employment of an ordinary single pair of pliers, such as are usually carried by workmen for the purpose of cutting wires. The connection may be easily and quickly made in positions where it would otherwise be diflicult or take considerable time to make a connection sueh as, for instance, when the wires to be connected are in such a position that they can be reached only from the top of a ladder or when they can be reached with but onehand.

By means of my improvement the con-nection maybe made with one hand by placing a tube over the end of one wire or set of wires, then inserting be other wire or set of wires into the tube, and then using the pliers to bend the tube so as to complete the connection.

The tube may be of lead, copper, or other soft material.

I claim as my invention and desire to se cure byLetters Patent of the United States- 1. A connection for electrical conductors, or wires, comprising an inclosing envelop surrounding the wires,and bent transversely, substantially as set forth.

2. A connection for electrical conductors, or wires, consisting of a tube into which the wires or conductors are inserted, and which with the wires is bent transversely to form a complete connection, substantially as set forth.

A connection for electrical conductors, or wires, consisting of a tube of soft or pliable material within which the wires are inserted and which is bent transversely, sub stantially as set forth.

a. An electrical connection for conductors, or wires, consisting of a tube of soft or pliable conducting material surrounding the conductors or wires which is bent transversely, and pressed. into close contact with the wires, or conductors, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BERJARD F. \VELDON.

Witnessesz' M. S. MURPHY, E. GALLAGHER. 

